Newcastle United have finally achieved their ultimate goal for the season - and we now know the Magpies will be a Premier League side once again for the 2017/18 campaign.

But, as Rafa Benitez has stressed before, promotion is just the “beginning” for the club; that was the objective for this season, but plenty of rebuilding work still needs to be done.

So here, NUFC Writer Chris Waugh highlights the eight questions facing Newcastle now they have secured promotion as Champions:

1. Will Benitez stay at Newcastle long term?

It’s the question which remains at the forefront of the mind of every United fan: will Benitez still be in charge come the start of the 2017/18 season?

With Newcastle now confirmed as a Premier League outfit for next term, the likelihood has increased exponentially - because the Spaniard would certainly have departed had the Magpies failed to clinch promotion.

And, though tensions between the boardroom and Benitez reached crisis point following Newcastle’s failure to sign anyone during the January transfer, the atmosphere has thawed in recent months.

Transfer meetings did occur in late-February and early-March, while Benitez continues to plan for the long term.

There remain some issues that need resolving - Benitez believes the club went back on their word in January and trust must be restored - so will the Spaniard will still be in the St James’ Park dugout come August?

2. Which current Magpies are good enough for the Premier League?

Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle (Image: Sunday Sun)

Some Newcastle fans have, prematurely, been discussing this throughout the majority of the campaign - but finally they can do so safe in the knowledge that the Magpies will be a Premier League side next season.

In truth, there are question marks over just about the entire squad. Even Dwight Gayle and Jonjo Shelvey , who have been excellent this season, do not appear guaranteed to deliver in the top flight given their past showings in the division.

While many Magpies will no doubt prove their Premier League credentials in time, perhaps only Matt Ritchie is a proven top-flight performer.

Then you have players such as Grant Hanley and Daryl Murphy, who were very much signed due to their Championship experience - so will they now be surplus to requirements?

Obviously Newcastle cannot sell their entire squad and start from scratch once again, so it is up to the management to determine who is good enough to contribute in the top flight.

Will we see the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Chancel Mbemba and Jack Colback still in black and white next season?

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Newcastle United are promoted

3. What will Newcastle’s summer transfer budget be?

The Magpies made a profit of more than £30million last summer in relation to their transfer activities, thanks primarily to the lucrative sales of Moussa Sissoko and Georginio Wijnaldum.

And, though United did not spend any money in January, a season in the Championship has greatly affected their financial position, as managing director Lee Charnley has repeatedly stressed in recent weeks.

Despite that, there is no doubt Newcastle need significant investment in their squad if they are to survive - and hopefully fare better than that - in the Premier League next season.

Surely the bare minimum for a transfer budget must be £50m, so will that sort of money - or preferably more - be made available?

Georginio Wijnaldum (L) of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his team's first goal with his team mate Moussa Sissoko (R) (Image: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

4. How many players do Newcastle need to sign? And which positions do they need to prioritise strengthening?

Not only must the Magpies draw up a transfer-kitty figure, they must also decide how many players they need to sign this summer.

What’s more, specific positions must be prioritised for strengthening.

Benitez wanted to sign attacking-midfielders and wingers in January, so does that remain the case? And which other positions does he believe need reinforcing?

5. Will Mike Ashley try and reinforce his long-held transfer policy once again? And will Graham Carr still hold an active role in recruitment too?

In January, there were murmurings that Ashley attempted to reintroduce his long-term transfer policy of signing players under the age of 26 who hold sell-on potential after Newcastle had deviated from that last summer in order to sign Murphy and Jesus Gamez.

However, that underlying policy is understood to have remained in place throughout Benitez’s time at the club, though the Spaniard was given the flexibility to deviate from it if he felt necessary.

So does that remain in place now? And will Benitez still have freedom to sign experienced players if he sees fit?

Also, will chief scout Carr continue to hold an active role in recruitment? Or will Benitez be allowed to do things his own way?

6. Where will Newcastle go for pre-season?

Last summer the Magpies visited the Republic of Ireland and then various lower-league grounds across England.

There has been talk of a future tour to the Far East or back to the USA, but that appears unlikely to happen this summer given the fact their top-flight status has been confirmed at such a late date.

There have been whispers of a trip to Continental Europe, but nothing has been announced yet - so what will Newcastle’s pre-season itinerary look like?

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7. Who is the Magpies’ new sponsor going to be?

Again there has been talk of Far-East interest, as well as a number of potential sponsors from the UK.

Yet the only thing we know at this stage is that it won’t be Wonga, and nor will Newcastle Brown Ale be emblazoned on the shirts once again despite tentative interest of bringing the company back as headline sponsors.

We’ve also been teased with early glimpses of Newcastle’s 125th-anniversary home kit for next season.

So how will the shirt look with the new sponsor on? Who is the new shirt sponsor? How much is the deal worth, and how long does it last?

8. What are Newcastle’s realistic ambitions for next season?

Benitez has spoken in the past of his desire to win trophies at Newcastle, but he knows that the Magpies cannot get ahead of themselves.

Next season United must establish themselves back in the top flight, then kick on from there.